Virucidal Approaches for Hemorrhagic Fever Viruses

Abstract

We have reviewed the primary literature on the virucidal efficacy of microbicidal active ingredients, formulated microbicides, and physical inactivation approaches (heat, irradiation) for hemorrhagic fever viruses (HFVs) (arenaviruses, filoviruses, flaviviruses, hantaviruses, nairoviruses, and phenuiviruses), and for two non-typical HFV paramyxoviruses. As each of these HFVs are large, lipid-enveloped RNA viruses, their susceptibilities to virucidal agents are informed by the so-called hierarchy of susceptibility of pathogens to microbicides. The unique susceptibility of lipid-enveloped viruses to most classes of microbicides is based on the common mechanisms of action of envelope-disrupting microbicides. Despite this, due to the relatively great lethality of these viruses, it is prudent (where possible) to confirm the expected efficacies of inactivation approaches in testing involving the HFVs themselves (as opposed to less lethal surrogate viruses) using field-relevant methods. Empirical data for virucidal activities of microbicidal active ingredients, formulated microbicides, and physical inactivation approaches, such as heat, ultraviolet light, and gamma irradiation, that were collected specifically for HFVs have been reviewed and summarized in this paper. These empirical data for surface and hand hygiene approaches, liquid inactivation approaches, and approaches for rendering diagnostic samples safe to handle inform non-pharmaceutical interventions intended to mitigate transmission risk associated with these HFVs.

Keywords: arenaviruses; filoviruses; flaviviruses; hand hygiene; hantaviruses; nairoviruses; paramyxoviruses; phenuiviruses; surface inactivation; suspension inactivation.